After searching high and low, I can say that the Smallman Street Deli is probably the second best delicatessen in Pittsburgh. That's not a huge compliment, however, as the deli scene is almost completely devoid of passable options (the only one I even like is Szmidt's, and they have a much smaller menu).
This Squirrel Hill eatery is but a shadow of the pastrami purveyors of New York City. Were it to move across the state, Smallman Street would be but a footnote, unable to crack anyone's Top 10 list in Philadelphia. But sometimes a facsimile is good enough, or even the best one can get. While there may be better beef brisket and superior salami on distant horizons, one can still enjoy the capable corned beef and likable lox in this little corner of Western PA.